Club takes safety measures to shield former academy product in heated Catalan derby next month.

Joan García

Espanyol Prioritizes Safety in Fiery Derby

RCD Espanyol have confirmed they will install protective nets behind the goalposts at the RCDE Stadium for their upcoming La Liga match against FC Barcelona in January 2026.

The decision is aimed at preventing fans from throwing objects at Joan García, Barcelona’s goalkeeper and a product of Espanyol’s famed La Masia rival academy, Can Periquito.

García, 23, left Espanyol for Barça in the summer of 2025 and has since become a regular under Hansi Flick, making his first return to Cornellà-El Prat as an opponent in one of Spanish football’s most intense city derbies.

The Derbi Barceloní is notorious for its passionate and sometimes hostile atmosphere, with previous incidents of objects thrown onto the pitch.

By placing nets specifically behind the goal García defends (depending on halves), Espanyol hopes to ensure player safety while complying with league protocols on crowd behavior.

The club emphasized the move is precautionary and standard for high-risk fixtures involving former players.